White House Says Uranium Enrichment Still on the Table in Iran Talks

On December 3rd, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said that while the U.S. is not prepared to recognize Iran’s right to enrich uranium, the Obama administration is “prepared to negotiate a strictly limited enrichment program.”

According to The Jerusalem Post, Meehan said the administration is willing to do this because “Iranians have indicated for the first time” that they are willing to accept “rigorous monitoring and limits on level, scope, capacity, and stockpiles” of nuclear material.

Meehan says the administration believes that under such terms, it is possible to allow “a very modest amount of enrichment” while also eliminating “any near-term breakout capability.”

Israel is opposed to “permanent enrichment capacity” for Iran at any level. They argue that leaving the infrastructure for enrichment in place necessarily gives Iran “the ability to manufacture a weapon.”

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